Kel sat down and cried. Could today get worse? First she woke up late and couldn't do her morning exercises, and then she was late to breakfast, and then she nearly got killed in staff practice, and had cursed very loudly when Owen accidently tripped her, and Lord Wyldon heard, and gave her punishment work, and then she hardly had any of her classwork done.
Suddenly she heard voices in the hall. Kel smiled bitterly. Yes, today could get worse, and it just did. She knew those voices. Neal. And the newest blonde beauty at court. *How lovely,* Kel thought sarcasticly. *Here I am with a crush on my best friend, and he has no idea.*
The voices faded. "Kel!" Faleron said, poking his head in the door. "Kel, if you don't come now, you're going to be late!"
Kel groaned. "I'm coming!" she said, sliding off the bed.
"Oh, and by the way, Kel," Faleron said casually. "Neal said he wants to talk to you after dinner."
"Sure," Kel said.
Dinner went by uneventfully. Kel went back to her room to get her homework, and someone knocked on the door. Kel sighed and opened it. It was Neal.
"Uhh, Kel, can I come in?" he asked nervously.
"Sure, Neal," Kel answered, confused. What was with him?
Neal came in and shut the door.
"Neal!" Kel protested.
"Kel, you're a squire. What else can the Stump do to you?"
"Let's see, yell, give me more work, and just possibly KICK ME OUT!" Kel screamed at him, and was about to continue when Neal came up to her and kissed her.
Kel shoved him away, eyes wide. *What is wrong with you?* she thought as she grabbed her assignments and ran out the door. *Isn't that what you wanted?*
Kel lay in bed awake a long time that night. Lalasa was visiting Tian, so she wasn't there. Kel got up and paced.
"All right, let's examine the situation," she muttered. "Have crush on best friend. Best friend doesn't know. Best friend kisses you. Panic and run away. Try to avoid best friend all evening." Kel then noticed that someone was standing by the door. "Who is it?" she asked loudly.
"Well, my lady, I didn't think you had a crush on anyone," Lalasa said.
Kel gasped. "Just how long have you been here?"
"Since around 'examine the situation,'" Lalasa answered amused. She sat down on the bed, and Kel dropped down beside her. "My lady, if you have a crush on someone, tell them."
"What if he laughs?" Kel asked.
"My lady, if he kissed you, then he'll most likely be jumping for joy. By the way, does this boy happen to be a green-eyed squire to Lady Alanna?"
"How'd you guess?" Kel asked.
"That's not for you to know. Now get some sleep."
The next morning, Kel got up even earlier than usual. She went through her exercises and dressed quickly. Then she went to Neal's room.
"Neal?" she asked as she knocked on the door.
"What, Kel?" Neal asked sharply when he looked out.
"Neal listen, about last night--"
"Kel, I understand if you never want to see me again, but just--"
"Neal! Would you let me talk?"
"Fine," he said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Actually, I don't want to talk," Kel said, and kissed him. And he kissed back.
Author's Note: Sucky, Sucky, SUCKY fic! Gawd Almighty, I CANNOT DO ROMANCE! Oh well. I was hoping this would help my writer's block, but it just made it worse!